Parachute.



A. W. RICHES.

PARACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I9, I9I4.

' l ,l 86,230.v I Ptented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ARTHUR W. RICHES, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PARACHUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Ap plcation filed January 19, 1914. Serial No. 813,010.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR WC. RICHES, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Parachutes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in parachutes relevant to the art in general, but more especially to improvements in aeronautical life saving devices, which are ap plicable for safely descending from monoplanes and all other types of aerial craft,I

wherein it is desired to descend to the earth from any altitude. g

An object of the invention is primarily the provision of an improved aeronautical descending device of the above general relation, comprising a plurality of parachutes so arranged and disposed in their relation to each other that when projected into the air they act in unison in the support of human cargo.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved parachute of the character stated that is placed ready for use in a suitable receptacle supplied in connection therewith, there also being operating-means for the release of projecting-means, for pro-I jecting one of the parachutes into the air and .when the same is inflated it pulls the other parachutes without said receptacle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved aeronautical life saving device of the above character, which embodies a separably connected belt which is K worn by the aeronaut and when in flight is attached to the. supporting cables from Said parachute, so that in alighting the b elt may be very easily unbuckled from said cable and the aeronaut then runs clear of the collapsing parachutes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a parachute possessed of the above advantages that is superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness in operation, and in point of ethciency and general serviceability.

"With the above and other objects in view the invention further consists in the new and novel provision, formation, construetion, combination, organization and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter fully described and shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

`ln the drawings z-Figure. l is atop plan Patented J une 6, 1916.

view of the invention as the same appears when iniated and in use; Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of one of the sections of the parachute; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the spider-guidecoll ars supplied and shown in the other views; Fig. 4L is a detail view to an enlarged scale of the anchor-clamp or bracket supplied in the invention; Fig. 5 is a central sectional view in `detail of the same part shown in Fig. 4,'

said view being taken at right angles thereto; Fig. 6 is an exterior side elevation of the upper portion of the preferred form of the in- .vention comprising a plurality of parachutes each acting independent of the other. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in detail of the snaps and interconnecting means for the life or"A supporting belt; Fig. 8 is a View of the spider-guide-collars and the air eXits or vents in the top of each of the two lower parachute sections: Fig. 9 is a central vertical sectional view of the parachute receptacle with its various adjuncts as the same is placed within the body portion of a monoplane, inthe vicinity of the operators seat. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the same parts shown in Fig. 9 and taken on the line X10-X10 ofFig. 9; Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the supporting-belt;`Fig. l2 is a front elevation of said belt; and Fig. 13 is a v-iew showing the-shoulder pad on an aviators jacket.

Like characters of reference designate like parts and combinations of parts throughout the several. views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings the letter A denotes a parachute constructed of suitable ma terial capable of being crushed into a rela* tively small space, B designates a similar parachute of larger proportions than the parachute VA and C is a like parachute of greater sizethan B; said parachutes being arranged one above the other and increasing in size one under the other. Said parachutes A, B land C are provided at their tops with air exits or vents a, I) and c respectively; there being spider-guide-collars b and c in said air eXits b and. c and a continuous supporting-cable D extending from said upperA parachute A downwardly through B and C and through said collars b and c.

E denotes the guy cables of the parachute A and to which the supporting-cable D is attached and F andl*V are the guys of the parachutes B and C respectively; said guys F and F having the spider-supporting brackets G- in connection therewith.

The cable D is supplied. with suitable anchor-brackets (Z and c for contacting with said` brackets Gr or with the guide-collars b and c.

The aeroplane H is supplied with the receptacle l for containing the parachutes B and C in a crushed or compact condition and J is the projecting-means for projecting the upper parachute A into the air, K denotes the means for releasing said projecting-means J, the same being in the vicinity of the customary aviators seat L from where it is easily reached.

M designates a belt lia-ving 'a crotch-strap m and suitable snap and ring safety'connecting means P to a portion of which the supporting-cable D is detachably fastened.

Referring with particularity to the drawings the parachute proper comprises the individual chutes or sections A, B and C, arranged one above the other substantially as shown, the section A being the top or uppermost, the section B being directly thereunder and of relatively larger proportions and. the section C being directly under the other sections A and B; said section'C being of relatively larger proportions than the section B. The section A specifically comprises an umbrella shaped parachute which is preferably constructed of silk fabric (which may be oiled if necessary) capable of being crushed into small space when not in use and which may be suitably reinforce-d or strengthened by means of cross-sewing or stitching after the methods now employed in the production of parachutes. Located' centrally of the section, A is an opening or air exit -afor equilibrating the section when in use as hereinafter described.. At the lower edge of said section, fastened as at 12 and extending downwardly therefrom are the guy cables of any desired material which converge and are each connected with thek other as at 18. at which point the supporting cable D is fastened thereto and from which the latter depends centrally thereof. At a predetermined point below and centrally of s'aid section A are the sections B and C, said section B being proportionally increased to approximately twice the size of p the section A and being constructed the aeroplane body ilar material; there being a similar air ventv 4a guiding collar 15 with a hole 15a therein through which .the supporting cable D is moved as will be hereinafter more fully described. At'the lower edge of'said section B, fastened as at 16 and convergingidownwardly therefrom, are the like guy cables lf, which in turn are fastened as at 17 to the spider-supporting-bracket Gr, the'latter having a. collar 18 in its center in the opening 19 of which the cable D is moved in the operation of the invention. At a predetermined distance below said section B is the section C which is increased in proportion to approximate twice the size of the section B, the same being constructed of like material and having a like spider-guide-collar c fastened as at 20 in the opening 21; said collar 0 being identical with the collar Z2 with the exception that it is proportionally larger than the collar b as tl'le-opening or air vent c is proportionally larger than the vent Said section. C has like guy cables F fastened thereto as at 22 extending down-- wardly therefrom and converging centrally thereof at which point a like spider-supporting-bracket G is suspended there being a like collar 18 having therein a like opening 19 for the cable D. Fastened to the cable D as at 28 are the anchor-brackets d,

and e having their contacting edges 24 op-l posed to each other` the brackets CZ under cert-ain conditions of use coming to rest on the supporting-brackets G and G and the brackets e contacting with the collars 7) and c as hereinafter more fully described.

The aeroplane H herein shown is of the monoplane type embodying the body portion 25 and is suppliedwitli the customary seat L for the aviator, an approximate showing of the structure being had in Figs. 9 and 1U of the drawings. The body 25 is supplied with the lateral supports 2G for supporting the receptacle preferably within said body 25. At the front of the receptacle I and at or adjacent to the front of said body 25 is located said aviators seat L; which may be of the rocking or stationary models and at the/back of said seat is the transverse wall 27 for the combined purpose of supplying a back for said seat, closing in the receptacle, and providing a guide-for removing the aviator out of said aeroplane as will behereinafter fully described. s

The receptacle l comprises the wall QS forming the compartment 29. the bottom of said receptacle being supported by said lai'- eral supports 2G withii. the side walls 30 of A lid oi covering` 3i is provided on said receptaclefr and is fas- .lcd thereto by the hinge 3Q, there being is fastened as at 48 to said rod.

an orifice 33 in the covering 31 for thecable D. At the rear of said receptacle the proi means J comprises a handle or lever 41,

aflixed to or adjacent the seat L or located at one side of said seat and on the side wall 30 of said aeroplane body 25 and withinleasy reach of the aviator; said handle or lever 41 being movably mounted as at 42 so that the same operates the `cord or cable 43 extending therefrom. over the rollers 44 and through the holes 45 in said transverse wall 27 and through the holes 46 in said lateral supports 26 to the rod 47 where said cord The rod 47 extends through the hole 46a in one of said lateral supports 2.6 and is provided with a spring 49 fastened lthereon as at 50 so that in moving said rod to slide the end 5l thereofI in the bottom 33 of said cylinder 34 and withdraw the same from hole 52 in said piston-rod 37, the lever 41 is moved to overcome the pressure of said spring 49.

The belt M comprises the main portion 53 fitting around the waist of the aviator and his passengers and the crotch portion/mJ extending from the back of said belt to the front thereof and which lits in the crotch between the lower limbs of the aviator or his passengers. Said belt is provided with suitable snap and ring interconnecting means P which comprises a three-way bracket having a ring 55 projecting upwardly therefrom, a ring 56 extending downwardly therefrom for the crotch part m and a ring 5T projecting laterally therefrom. The crotch strap m, the belt M and the end of the cable D are each provided with an ordinary spring snap 5S such as are supplied on harness which comprises a thumb-latch 59 normally held in closed position by the spring 60, the snaps 5S being fastened to said belt M, to the crotch-strap m and to the end of said cable D as by therivets 61.

Modus operandi.' Thevarious parts areA assembled substantially as just described with the upper or smaller parachute A folded or crushed in the cylinder 34 and so arrangedthat the cable D extends from the bottom thereof which is also, the top of the piston 36, to and through the relatively long slot 61a which ranges in said cylinder to the i top thereof. That portion of the cableD intermediate the parachute sections A and B 6 ranges within said compartment 29- at the upper part of which the parachute B is placedv in compact folded position and that part of the cable intermediate the parachute sections. B and C is coiled between said sections in said compartment 29. of said receptacle I; the section C being compactly folded at the bottom of said compartment with that portion of the cable D extending below said lower section C being turned upwardly at 7 the side of said compartment. The cable D then ranges along the top of said receptacle under the hinged covering 3l, through the v orifice 33 and thence over the top of said covering 31' to the aviator. sirable to supply a shoulder pad 63 having a suitable hook 62 as shown in Fig. 13

fastened o n the coat or jacket 64 usually worn by the aviator so that said cable D may extend downwardly over the front of ,8 said jacket 64 to the belt M where the snap 58 is employed to fasten said cable in the ring 55 sothat the cable does not interfere with the aviator in the manipulation of the necessary mechanisms for controlling the aeroplane while in Hight. W'hen the aviator has for any reason lost control ofthe aeroi plane and desires to abandon the same in its downward plunge he manipulates the lever 41 to project the parachute section, A into e the air which spreads or inliates instantly and then pulls the covering open and the parachute section B without the receptacle; said section B as it inflates pulling the section C without said receptacle., When all of 1 said sections A, B and C are inflated the sustentati'on capacity thereof very readily raises the aviator olf the seat and upwardly out of the aeroplane as the same is dropping.

rlfhe parachute sections A, B andC, one 1 arranged below the other and each increasing in relative proportions, may be used without the receptacle herein shown and described and without the projecting and releasing means herein shown in descending 1 from any altitude it simply being necessary that a belt substantially as shown be aflixed to the supporting-cable D.

Vhen the projecting means J, which may be in the form of an explosive in substitu- 1 tion for the spring actuated mechanism herein shown 'and-described, is used to project the uppermost or smaller parachute section A into the air and as the same is inflated the anchor-b`rackets are brought into 1 Contact with the guide collars Z2 and 0'; said guide-collars thereby raising the parachute sections B and C in operative working position for inflation in the air and after such inflation theguy-cables F and F thereby i raise the supporting brackets G and G upwardly on said cable D until they are brought intosco'ntact with anchor-brackets d so that any weight on said cable is thereby supported by said parachute sections B and C and to a lesser degree by said section A.

The air vents a, e and c are so constructed with proper regard to the general proportions of the sections A, B and C- that the sustaining capacity of the device when inilated is very great and a more eiiicient device is thereby provided.

The invention contemplates the provision of any plurality of planes or parachutes of`- any like size or any series of various sized parachutes of relatively increasing or decreasing proportions one above the other.

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to, various modifications in the more extensive utilization of the same, therefore, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific provision, formation, construction, combination, organization and relative arrangement of parts, members and `features, as hereinshown and described but reserve the right to vary the same within the scope of the invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,` what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An aeronautical life saving device comprising a plurality of parachute sections, one above the other and increasing in relative proportions one below the other; air vents for increasing the sustentation and the stabilizing capacity of each of said sections; guide collars in the air vents of the lower parachute sections; a cable guyed to and'extending from the upper section and through saidgguide collars in the vents in the lower sections; a detachable belt on said cable ,'avreceptacle for containing said sections in folded compact fornpand projecting means` in said receptacle `for projecting one of said sections for inflation.

2. An aeronautical life savingdevice cornprising a plurality of parachute sections, one above the other 'and increasing in relative proportions one below the other; air vents for increasing the sustentation and the stabilizing capacity of each of said sec tions; a cable guyed toand extending freni the upper section and operatively through said vents in the lower sections; a detach- 'able belton said cable; a receptacle for con- 9 vents of the lower of said parachute sections; a cable fastened to the upper and extending through said guide collarsin the vents of the other of said sections; a belt Afor detachable attachment to said cable; a

receptacle for containing said sectionsand having means therein for projecting one ofsaid sections; and means for ,releasing said projecting means to inflate the sections and support an aviator by said belt.

et. An aeronautical life saving device cornprising a plurality of parachute sections arranged one above the other; air vents in each of said sections; guide collars inthe vents of the lower of said sections; a cable fastened to the upper and extending through the guide collars in the other of said sections; a belt for detachable attachment to said cable; a receptacle for containing said sections in compact folded condition and having means therein for projecting one of said sections; andrneans for releasing said projecting means to iniate the sections and support an aviator by said belt.

5. 1 An aeronautical life saving device comprising a plurality of parachute sections ranging one above the other and each being of relatively smaller proportions; air vents Ain each of said sections; guide collars in each of the lower sections; a cable suitably fastened to the guy cables of the upper section and operatively extending through the other of thev sections; a supporting bracket suspended below each of said lower sections; and anchor brackets on said cable for engaging the supporting brackets and the guide collars, substantially as described.

6. An aeronautical life saving device comprising a plurality of parachute sections ranging one below theother and each being of relatively larger proportions; air vents in each of said sections and having guide.- collars therein; guy-cables for suspending 'a supporting-bracket below each df said lower sections; a cable guyed to said `upper section and extending through said lower sections; anchor-brackets on said cable for contact'with said guide-collars and with said suppciting-brackets; a belt deta'chably aiiixed to said cable; a receptaclefor containing said seetions in compact form;p1.o jecting-means in said receptacle; and means under control of the aviator or operator for releasing said projecting means.

7. An aeronautical life saving device comprising a' plurality of parachute sections ranging one below the other and each being of relatively' larger proportions; air vents in each of said' sections and having guidecollars therein; guy-cables for suspending a supporting-bracket below each of said lower sections; a cable guyed to said upper section and extending through said guide collars in said lower sections; anchorm brackets on cable for contact with said guide'collars and with said supportingbrackets; a belt detachably affixed to said cable; a receptacle for containing said sections in compact form; projecting-means in said receptacle for prjectngsaid upper section; and means under control of the aviator or operator for releasing said projecting means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed'my name to this specification in the lpresence of the two subscribing witnesses.

A ARTHUR W. RICHES.

Witnesses:

l W. F. SEEMANN,

I. R. RUBIN. 

